James Named National Player of the Week

Oklahoma City, Okla. - Senior right-hander Peaches James was named the USA Softball National Player of the Week on Tuesday, adding two more honors to what has already been a season filled with accolades.

James has been named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week a league-high three times this season. Last week, the Papillion, Neb., native earned Big 12 Player-of-the-Week honors after hitting three home runs in a two-game set at Oklahoma State, March 27-28.

James (20-5) was the winning pitcher in all three of Nebraska’s games last week, posting a 3-0 mark with a 0.00 ERA. James tossed three complete-game shutouts, allowing only three hits in six innings against Kansas on March 31, one hit against Baylor on April 3 and two hits against the Bears on April 4. In tossing her 10th, 11th and 12th shutouts of the season, James saw her scoreless innings streak rise to 28.1 innings.

Against conference-leading and 19th-ranked Baylor over the weekend, James tossed 14 innings of shutout ball, allowing only three hits. James held the Bears to a .070 batting average and held opposing hitters to a paltry .095 average overall. James once again posted an incredible strikeout-to-walk ratio last week. James struck out 30 hitters, while walking only six, a ratio of 5-to-1.

"I think this is a great honor for a great person," NU Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "Peaches is just going out every game and playing for her team, and I think that’s what’s really going on with her this season. She is a truly gifted athlete, but she is also one of the biggest team players I’ve ever coached."

James, who was not named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week at all in 2003, is enjoying an All-America caliber season. In 149.1 innings this season, James has struck out 204 en route to limiting opposing hitters to a .140 average, tops in the Big 12. James’ 0.70 ERA is also tops in the conference, as are her 20 wins and 12 shutouts.

"I think the biggest difference with her physically this year is that she is finding different ways to get hitters out," Revelle said. "She is putting the ball where she wants to put it with a lot of movement. Her execution of the game plan from week to week has been impeccable. She has had a very consistent approach all season."